Compressed air-engine.



A. B. WEBB.

COMPRESSED AiR ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13. 1915.

1,22'7,71 5 Patented May 29, 1917.

8. 91 JNLSJM AARON B. WEBB, OF STREATOE, ILLINOIS.

COlvIPBESSED-AIE ENGINE.

Application filed October 13, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AARON B. WEBB, a citizen of the United States,residing at Streator, in the county of La Salle, State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Compressed-Air Engine; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

The present invention relates to a compressed air engine, and has forits object to provide a device of this character which embodies novelfeatures of construction where by compressed air can be utilized toadvantage as an expansive medium for the driving of an engine.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a compressed air enginewhich is comparatively simple and inexpensive in its construction, whichhas a positive valve control, which is economical and efiective inoperation, and which has few and simple parts such as are not liable toget out of reair.

VVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel combinations and arrangements of the parts as will more fullyappear as the description proceeds, the novel features thereof beingpointed out in the appended claim.

For a full understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is alongitudinal sectional view through a compressed air engine constructedin accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the same, taken on theline 2-2 of Fi 1.

iorrespondin-g and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawing by the samereference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention, thenumerals 1 designate a series of upright cylinders which are arranged ina row and project upwardly from a crank case 2, the lower ends of thecylinders being open and communicating with the crank case, while theupper ends thereof are closed by the removable cylinder heads 3. Each ofthe cylinder heads 3 is provided with an inlet opening which isSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented llilay "7.

Serial No. 55,724.

in communication with an inlet pipe 4-, and also with an outlet openingwhich is in communication with an exhaust pipe 5. The several inletpipes 4 are extended laterally so as to project from one side of therespec tive cylinders, the ends of the inlet pipes communicating with acommon compressed air supply pipe which leads from a suitable source ofcompressed air such as the tank 7.

A. throttle valve 8 is applied to the com pressed air supply pipe 6 foruse in starting and stopping the engine, said valve controlling the fiowof compressed air througi the supply pipe 6 from the tank 7. The tank isshown as provided with a conventional pressure gage 9, and also with asafety valve 10 which will release the pressure should it reach adangerous point. Any suitable means such as the pump 11 may be providedfor forcing compressed air into the tank 7.

The crank case 2 extends horizontally along the lower ends of thecylinders 1 and provides a support for the latter. Extending, throughthe crank case 2 is a crank shaft 12 which is ournaled within suitablebearings 13 at the ends of the crank case, and also within intermediatebearings 14: carried by standards 15 projecting into the crank case fromthe bottom thereof. One end of the crank shaft 12 may be provided withthe usual fly wheel 16, and power may be taken from the crank shaft forperforming any usual work. The crank portions 12 of the crank shaft areconnected by the piston rods 17 to pistons 18 which are mounted withinthe various cylinders 1 to reciprocate up and down therein in the usualmanner.

The inlet pipe 4: of each of the cylinders is provided with a valvecasing 19 within which a vertically movable slide valve 20 is mounted,the movements of the valve serving to open or close communication between the inlet pipe and the supply pipe 6. In a similar manner, each ofthe exhaust pipes 5 is provided with a valve casing 21 within which avertically movable slide valve 22 is mounted, the movements of the valveserving to open and close the exhaust pipe. In the operation of theengine the valves 20 and 22 of each of the cylinders are alternatelyopened and closed, said valves being so timed that compressed air fromthe inlet pipe 4: will enter the cylinder and force the pistondownwardly therein, while upon the return movement of the piston thevalve 20 of the inlet pipe will be closed and the valve 22 of theexhaust pipe opened.

Extending downwardly from each of the slide valves 20 and entering thecrank case 2 is a valve rod 23, and a similar valve rod 24 is connectedto each of the valves 22, said valve rods 23 and 24 passing throughguides 25 projecting from the cylinders, and being surrounded by coilsprings 26 which are interposed between the said guides 25 and shoulders27, said springs normally serving to move the valve rods and to hold thevalves in a closed position. The lower ends of the valve rods 23 and 24:have pin and slot connections 28 with the ends of the respective valvelevers 29 and 30, said valve levers extending under the crank shaft 12and having their opposite ends pivotally connected to arms 31 projectingfrom the intermediate bearings 14 of the crank shaft. The crank shaft isprovided with a pair of cams 32 and 33 for each set of the valve levers29 and 30, said cams being offset from the crank shaft in oppositedirections and being provided with the respective annular grooves 52 and33 which receive the valve levers and prevent the valve levers frombecoming laterally disengaged from the cams. Owing to the fact that thecams 82 and 33 are offset in opposite directions from the crank shaft,the inlet valves 20 and outlet valves 22 will be alternately opened andclosed, and the valve mechanism is so timed that the inlet valve will beopen and the exhaust valve closed during the downward movement of thepiston, while the position of the valves will be reversed during theupward movement of the piston.

The power strokes of the several pistons operate in a regular sequenceand the crank portions 12 of the crank shaft are arranged at angles toeach other, so that there is never a dead center and the engine can bestarted from any position. The valve levers 29 and 30 are provided withthe respective extensions 29 and 30 for cooperation with stops 3%projecting from the interior of the crank case to limit the swingingmovements of the valve levers and prevent the valves from being movedtoo far in either direction.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In a device of the character described, the combination with acompressed air engine comprising a cylinder, a piston within thecylinder, a crank shaft, a piston rod connecting the piston to the crankshaft, a crank case inclosing the crank shaft and provided at the sidesthereof with inwardly extending stops, inlet and exhaust valves for thecylinder, of arms projecting into the crank case, a pair of transverselyextending valve levers pivoted at one end upon the said arms andarranged to have their swinging movements limited by engagement with thebefore mentioned stops projecting from the crank case, valve rodsconnecting the swinging ends of the respective valve levers with theinlet and exhaust valves, springs acting upon the valve rods to normallyhold the valves in a closed position, and oppositely ofi'set camsapplied to the crank shaft and provided with annular grooves to receivethe valve levers and prevent lateral movement thereof. the said camsoscillating the valve levers to alternately open the inlet and exhaustvalves at the proper intervals of time.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

AARON B. WEBB.

Witnesses:

Ross C. ARTHUR, FRED C. ARTHUR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

